The Oldest Is The Smartest And The Youngest Is The Rebel (And Other Studies In Birth Order)

The Oldest Is The Smartest And The Youngest Is The Rebel (And Other Studies In Birth Order)

Plenty of psychological research has been done on the significance of birth order. Studies show that an individual's personality is not necessarily dictated by being the youngest or oldest, but rather by the roles and relationships he has within his family. In other words, just because you're the first born, you're not guaranteed to be the smartest. But because you're the oldest in comparison to your siblings, you've had more time to acquire knowledge. Similarly, the youngest may get a reputation for having difficulty in school, but that's due to expectations put forth by older siblings, not actual intelligence.

How Birth Order Affects Your Personality

According to research, middle children are more cooperative, flexible and sociable. What about the oldest and youngest?